JUNE 2. 2006
jUSt|OUt .13
MARTY DAVIS
northwest
Shout Out for Joy
One queer young woman's quest
by Malka Geffen
hy has a young queer woman from
person. When 1 go through a
Wash., committed
checkpoint in the West Bank,
herself to social justice work in
1 pull out my American pass­
Palestine? What can the queer
port, and generally speaking,
community learn from her efforts
1 have no problem. I’m in a posi­
Vancouver,
and experiences?
tion to use that American pass­
1 had these and many other questions to ask Joy
port to help Palestinians. 1 was
Ellison when we met to discuss her recent trip to the
asked to accompany a friend of
West Bank and her upcoming trip to Bethlehem.
mine who is 17 years old to
This bright and compassionate 22-year-old, who
Jerusalem because [she was) wor­
graduated from Earlham College with a degree in
ried that without an American
peace and global studies, will be learning Arabic,
with her she wouldn’t get in.
living with a Palestinian family and volunteering
So solidarity can’t be about
through the Palestine Summer Encounter program.
believing that we share the suf­
fering of other people. It can be
Malka Geffen: Why is it important to you as
a young queer woman to be an activist?
about joining with people as they
suffer and using our privilege in a
Joy Ellison travels to Bethlehem this summer.
Joy Ellison: I think it’s a matter of survival. We
conscious way to systemically undermine that oppres­
to go to language school. I’m really lucky that I also
and more willing to use violence against inter­
really don’t have much of a choice in this day and
sion. I think that we need to get out of our own skins
get to stay with a Palestinian family and get to be
nationals because they have very few constraints
age because our existence is denied as a people, and
and our own perspectives every once in a while, and
involved in cultural events. I’m really excited to be
and because they feel more passionately their cause
we have so many threats to our civil liberties and to
we need to put our oppression into context with oth­
able to volunteer with the Holy Land Trust’s non­
than some soldiers.
human rights all over the world. We havg a regime
er forms of oppression.
violent training program, which does training for
Generally I feel so much more worried for the
in place that’s promoting militarism and economic
We can’t be a movement that’s about fund rais­
Palestinian trainers and also runs an Israeli/
physical safety of any Palestinians 1 am with that it’s
injustice as though it’s something that’s a world
ing and giving awards to television shows. We have
Palestinian international summer camp aimed at
easier to ignore my own fear. Most people know so
value. As human beings of whatever flavor and
to be a movement about constructive nonviolence
teaching nonviolent activism skills to high school
little about the situation. You can tell they have
variety, we simply have to be activists if our planet
and about putting our human dignity out there for
students and young adults.
questions but that they’re hardly able to express
is going to continue.
other people to attack but also to see that it’s real.
them. 1 think that’s the real tragedy. I think part of
MG: What are you most looking forward to in
MG: What is it about the Palestinian situation
that specifically speaks to you?
MG: Why are you going back to Palestine this
summer?
it is that people are afraid of saying something that
is anti-Semitic or saying something that will sup­
your upcoming trip?
JE: Not the heat and the mosquitoes! I love
port terrorism in some way.
JE: The Israeli military occupation of Palestine is
JE: I’m going back specifically to go to language
Palestine. People always look at me very strangely
George Bush has been really effective in this
funded by U.S. taxpayer money to the tune of about
school. I had an experience in Palestine that really
when I say that. I will be glad to be back and see old
philosophy that “If you’re not with us, then you’re
$3 billion a year. As an American, 1 feel like I have
changed my understanding of what I needed to do
friends. The food in Palestine is phenomenal.
with the terrorists.” And that’s just paralyzing our
an obligation to make sure my tax money is going to
to work in the area.
Everyone should go to Palestine because of the
ability to understand the situation.
ethic of hospitality and the fact that you’ll be fed all
responsible people and responsible causes. The Israeli
Coming back from ninning an errand in anoth­
military occupation of Palestine is not one of those.
er town, 1 got off the bus and saw about 20 men
It’s something that is targeting civilians. It’s perpetu­
who’d been stopped and looked like they’d probably
ating violence and injustice. It’s about removing one
had their ID cards taken away from them by an
group of people from a homeland for another group
Israeli soldier. I remember walking up to these men
of people who also believe it’s their homeland. It’s not
and saying: “Do any of you speak English? Do the
JE: Probably the most common question was,
number of queer folks and people who are able to
about cooperation but exclusivity.
soldiers have your ID cards?” None of them spoke
“Weren’t you so scared ?” To which the answer is,
identify with the stories 1 tell. I would really love to
English, which is a little strange in Palestine. It’s real­
“Not as scared as you might think, and not scared
continue talking with youth groups. I’m always
ly important not to walk up to a soldier on a person’s
of what you might expect.” 1 have never been afraid
behalf unless you have that person’s permission. So 1
of Palestinian people because I never posed a threat
looking for opportunities to speak. I’m especially
happy to speak with GLBTQ folks. ©
ended up running home to ask, “How do you say ‘Do
to them that I’m aware of. Occasionally 1 have
the soldiers have your ID card?’ in Arabic?”
been frightened by Israeli soldiers and also Israeli
Keep up with J oy E llison by visiting
settlers who tend to be more ideologically based
wuw. inpalestine. blogspot. com.
MG: Why is solidarity between the queer
community and Palestinians important?
JE: We as Americans simply cannot share the
suffering of the Palestinian people, or the suffering
of the Israeli people, or the suffering of any another
This was the point in which I realized it’s time
MG: How will you share what you’ll learn
day long.
this summer with your community?
JE: I’ve talked to about 12 different high school
MG: What’s the most common question
classrooms, and that’s where 1 find the greatest
you’ve heard since your return last year?
FIGHT THE WAR
ERROR.
The Randi Rhodes Show - weekdays 3PM - 7PM
AM
L
620 kpoj
P ortlands progrtssivt talh station